参加

• Reading: さんか
• Romaji: sanka
• Kanji breakdown: 参 (san) — to go, participate; 加 (ka) — to add, join
• Pronunciation: /sa.ɴ.ka/

Meaning

Participation; joining in; taking part. A fundamental word for engaging in events, activities, and groups.

Commonly used as a する verb (参加する — to participate). Paired with に to mark the event: パーティーに参加する (to attend a party). Used for everything from casual gatherings to formal conferences. Key compounds include 参加者 (participant) and 参加費 (participation fee).

Examples

1. 来週のボランティアに参加する予定です。 I plan to take part in next week's volunteer event.
2. 参加者は全部で五十人だった。 There were fifty participants in total.
3. マラソン大会に参加するために毎日走っている。 I run every day to prepare for the marathon.

Usage Guide

Context: events, sports, community

Tone: active

Origin & History

Compound of 参 (san, to go/participate) and 加 (ka, to add/join). Together they describe adding oneself to a group — joining in.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal